Since earning his industrial engineering degree in 1986, however, Dante Jones has been all offense--setting goals and scoring touchdowns.
In addition to providing leadership in local Georgia Tech Clubs, Jones has been helping combat illiteracy and stop school drop-outs, working with businesses to help promote leadership among school kids, and serving on the board of a shelter for battered women and children.
Because of his caring leadership, Jones has been named recipient of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association's 1994 Young Alumni Award.
The annual award is sponsored by the Young Alumni Council of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association. It recognizes alumni under 40 years of age who demonstrate exceptional commitment in their civic and professional endeavors, and in their support of Georgia Tech.
A manager with Procter and Gamble in Cincinnati since transferring from Albany, Ga., in August 1994, Jones was president of the Georgia Tech Albany Club in 1993-94. He was a participant in the Georgia Tech Legislative Network and serves as Georgia Tech Roll Call Representative at Procter and Gamble.
"I have always enjoyed working with kids," Jones said. "Kids are the future of this nation. As I grew up, there were some people who took some extra time out to help me. It is a civic responsibility to try to help those who are less fortunate."
Jones has been involved in tutoring programs for the past eight years, both through the Procter and Gamble's Partners in Excellence Program, chairing the tutorial program from 1988 to 1990 and from 1991-94, and through the Big Brother program of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, which he continues to be active.
"I got involved the Liberty House shelter for battered women and children [in Albany] because domestic violence is a big problem," Jones said. "The shelter gives women and children a safe haven. It also provides counseling and offers programs that help build their self-esteem."Jones believes in community service work.
"Many times, people don't do enough for people around them," Jones said. "People go to school and get an education and start developing some wealth--but they don't share it. I looked at it from the fact that I was single; I don't have the responsibilities of life; I don't have responsibilities with kids. Quite honestly, if there is any time that I ought to be involved to really help people, it should be while I'm young. And when you're just out of college, high school kids can relate to you. It wasn't so very many years ago that you were in the same shoes they are in.
"I realize that in my life, as I get married and have kids, my priorities will shift, and I'll want to spend more time there. I think a person should take advantage of that time while they are young and single."
A native of Greenville, Miss., his father, Willie Jones, served in the military and the family moved frequently. "I lived in Selma, Ala., Memphis, Tenn., two places in Libya, three places in California, and three places in Colorado--and finally settled in Valdosta, Ga.--that's where I call home."
His father retired from service and pursued a teaching career for 15 years before his second retirement; his mother teaches in the Valdosta public-school system.
When Jones graduated from Valdosta High School in 1981, he was named best all-around senior and all-state and all-America football player.
"I was good in math and science, and I took a look at the challenging careers that I thought would be in high demand when I graduated from college - and, of course, that would pay good money when I graduated," Jones said. "I had decided I wanted to go to Georgia Tech before they even started to recruit me for football. It was icing on the cake when Bill Curry offered me a scholarship.
"I tried not to not just be a football player," Jones added. "I tried to get involved." As a student, Jones was a scholar-athlete, serving as president of ANAK honor society in 1985. He was also involved with the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Georgia Tech African-American Association.